Spring cushion



Sept. 10, w LEW|S I I SPRING CUSHION Filed May 25, 1926 VENTOR' y flrro IVEYS Patented Sept. V10, 1929.

WILLIAM LEWIS, OF UTICA, NEW YORK.

SPRING sess on.

Application filed May 25, 1926i Serial no. 111,531.

This invention relates to a spring cushion adapted to be used as a bed mattress or as a seat for a couch, chair,,automobile, and analogous objects and involves the use of a system or systems of similar helical springs arranged vertically side by side in a substantially horizontal plane and suitably sheathed so as to form a substantially rectangular cushion.

The main object is to assemble and secure the springs and sheathings in such manner as to secure and maintain a more uniformly parallel relation between the lower and upper surfaces of the cushion than has heretofore been practised.

For example in cushions of this charac-i ter it has heretofore been customary to draw one or both of the opposite longitudinal edges of the cushion toward a medial plane between the lower and upper faces of the central portion of the cushion thereby deflecting the upper longitudinal corners downwardly and effecting a corresponding compression of the adjacent springs and contributing in a measure to the deformation of the adjacent portions of the cushion due to the fact that those portions are usually subjected to the most severe usage and one of the specific objects of the present invention is to enable the upper ends of the longitudinal rows of springs to assume practically the same level as the tops of the intermediate springs when pressure thereon is removed so that theuppers surface of the cushion may retain its original flat or level plane. 1

Another specificobject is to arrange the springs in rows so thattwo of the rows will extend along the lengthwise edges of the cushion from end to end to be lrnownas the front and rear rows while the remaining springs will be arranged in rows transversely of the cushion between the front andirear rows to be known as the intermediate set of I springs so that the springs of each of the front and rear rows may actlndependently of each other ,and of the intermediate rows and thereby, to assist in maintaining the keeping ofthe longitudinal corners of, the cushion at the same level or plane as the cor F responding ends of the intermediate springs and at the same time to allow more or less independent action of the several transverse rows of springs relatively to the longitudinal rows.

Another specific object is to incorporate the transverse rows in separate sheaths with portions of the sheath of each row extending along opposite sides of and between the individualsprings of that row to avoid contact bet-ween the springs and at the same time to allow them inparallel relationp A further object is to sheath the entire system of springs in onecomplete casing and to reinforce the casing at the corners by welts or equivalent reinforcements to assist in re-\ sisting deformation of the cushion.

spectively, Figure 1.

I is illustrated, this cushion comprises a system of similar coil or helical springsarranged vertically side by side in a horizontal plane so asrto form a substantially rectangular cushion and divided into what may be termed front and rear'longitudinal sets ,-l1 and intermediate'sets 2- 0 I The springs 1 of the longitudinal sets are arranged in parallel rows alongthe front and rear edges of the cushion from end to end thereof while the springs -2 of the intermediate sets are arranged in parallel transverse rows between the front and rear rows of springs 's1 which latter willbe arrangedm transverse ahnement wlth the a corresponding transverse rows so as to maintain the'rectangular form of the cushion.

The springs of each transverse row are incorporated in the cells of a cellular sheathng 3 consisting of lower and upper strips '3 of burlaps or other suitable fabric of aboutthesame width as the diameter of the springs and extending across the correspond ng endsof said springs and also PATENT orrics. 3

. to bestitched or otherwise secured to each other at 4: substantially midway between the ends of said springs and thereby to form noiseless separators between contiguous sides of the springs to preventicontact of one with another, the outer ends ofthe' strips being interposed between the end springs of each transverse row and the adjacent springs of the outer l6I1 tl1W1S6 rows as shownimore clearly in Figure 4.

It is now clear that the entire set of springs between the outer lengthwise rows is made up of separate transverse rows and that the springs of each transverse row are inserted in the cells of a separate transverse sheath or cellular casing, the cells of which are open at'opposite sides lengthwise of the cushion or in the direction of lengthwise of the outer rows of springs to permit the insertion of the springs in the cells from either side and that the length of the cushion may be varied at will by simply adding or subtracting one or'more of the'transverse extending cellular sheathings with the springs therein while the width of the cushion may be varied by simply varying the length of the cellular sheathingsand the number of spring-receiving cells therein. a i

The cells in the transverse sheathings are of uniform length determined by the spacing of the stitchings 4 which are arranged to hold the springs under more or less compression with the lower and upper ends of the cells in parallel planes uniform distances apart when the springs of each sheath are placed in the cells. V

The lower and upper ends of the springs and adjacentportions of the sheathing of each transverse row are tied together by cords -5 extending diametrically across the adj acent ends of the springs and secured to diametrically opposite sides of the end convolutions thereof by loops 6 of the tie members -5, said loops being passed through the adjacent portions of the fabric and around contiguous portions of the end convolutions of the springs for holding the springs -2- of each transverse row against relative lateral movement or displacement.

The springs 1 of the front and rear rows or sets and also the springs 2-of the lIltBllllQCllttilQ transverse rows together with the cellular sheathings for said intermediate rows are housed'in a casing 7'of burlaps or other suitable flexible fabric, said housing comprising lower and upper plates of sheets 8 and 8 and opposite side or end strips or sections -9 and 9- stitched or otherwise secured together at the corners to form a hollow substantially rectangular" casing or housing in which the bottom and top plates or sections 8' and 8 are held by the side and end sections 9 and 9 in parallel spaced relation 2 distance apart substantially equal to the vertical height of the springs. i

That is, the vertical height of the side and end strips or sections -9 and 9- is substantially equal to the vertical depth of the springs 1 and 2 when placed under the desired compression.

The areas of the top and bottom sections 8 and 8- are substantially equal to the combined areas of the several springs inclosed therein except that their marginal edges'extend outwardly slightly beyond the outer edges of the outer springs while the lower and upper edges of the side and end strips or sections -9 and 9 are flanged outwardly at -10 to form reinforcing welts which are stitched or otherwise secured to the adjacent edges of the top and bottom sections to stiffen the sanre and to assistin maintaining the rectangular form of the outer casing in addition to strengthening the corners of said casing to resist the expansion of the springs.

As previously stated the side and end sections 9 and 9 of the cushion serve to hold the marginal edges of the lower and upper sections 8 and 8 in parallel relation against the tension of the adjacent springs and in like manner the intermediate portions of the lower and upper sections are held in parallel spaced relation against the action of the intermediate springs by a series of vertically disposed webs or partitions 12 of burlaps or equivalent material extending from front to rear between the side walls 9' and of about the same vertical height as the side and end walls, said webs for the transverse rows of s arin s and at the same time forming noiseless cushions between the adjacent springs.

The lower and upper edges of the webs or partitions 12 are flanged laterally and stitched or otherwise secured to the adj acent portion of the bottom and top sections 8 and 8 thereby preventing the spreading of the intermediate portionsof the cushion by the springs and assisting in holding said top and bottom sections in parallel spaced relation corresponding to the lengthof the springs when placed under more or less compression as shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 3. 1

Suitable tie cords13 and -14:- are vextended diametrically across opposite ends" of the outer transverse rows of springs 2- and across the inner edges of the opposite "end convolutions of the side spring -1- and are stitched or otherwise secured to the adjacent portions of the'bottom and top sections -8- and 8 and to the contiguous portions of the springs 1 and 2 so as to bind both ends of the side springs to the corresponding ends of the adjacent intermediate springs and also to tie opposite ends of the springs of each row to each other thereby aiding in maintaining the parallelism of the bottom and top sections and also serving to distribute the compression strains upon any one or more springsto the adjacent springs.

In making up the cushion the housing -7 may be made to the size required except that one of the side members as 9-9 may be left unattached along one of its longitudinal edges to permit the insertion of the springs therethrough into their respective compartments between the end walls 9- and 9 and partitions -12.

The coiled springs 1 for the back row may then be inserted into their respective compartments through the open side of the housing until properly positioned in a row at the back after which the several transverse rows of springs 2 in their respective sheathings may be inserted endwise through the open side into their corresponding compartments after which the remaining front row of springs -1 may be placed through the open side into their respective compartments.

What I claim is:

A spring cushion comprising a hollow substantially rectangular fabric housing having parallel transverse fabric partitions in equally spaced relation from each other and from the end walls and dividing the interior of the housing into a series of transverse compartments a single upright coil spring in each end of each compartment and having its lower and upper ends engaged respectively with the bottom and top walls of the housing, separate fabric sheathings extending forwardly and rearwardly of and within said compartments between the front and rear end springs therein and independent thereof, and each provided with a plurality of pockets open at both ends adjacent the partitions, and separate upright coil springs arranged in said pockets independently of the end springs, said housing being separate from and enclosing the sheathing and end sprlngs.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of May, 1926.

WILLIAM LEWIS. 

